Schools

College Honors for Five Watertown Students During Fall 2023 Semester

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Students from Watertown made the dean’s list at College of Charleston, University of Delaware, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Dean College in the fall of 2023. The following information was provided by the college or university. College of Charleston

Dean’s List (Distinguished)

To qualify for Dean’s List (Distinguished), students must earn a GPA of 3.500 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 semester hours. The following students at the College of Charleston were named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2023 semester:

Madison Cummings

University of Delaware

Charlotte Deveikas of Watertown has been named to the University of Delaware Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 semester. To meet eligibility requirements for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester.

Schools

Details Released on Steps Taken by School & Police After Discovery of Middle School List

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Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

Watertown Public School officials released some details about the steps taken by Watertown Middle School and the Watertown Police following the discovery of a list of students created by a WMS student. A meeting was held Tuesday night where some parents expressed frustration about the lack of information released. The meeting Tuesday night was closed to the media, and school officials said it was intended for parents, staff and the Watertown Middle School community. Watertown Middle School Principal Jennifer Fein Chen and Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston sent out the following letter:

Dear Watertown Middle School Families

Thank you to all the members of our WMS community who came to our discussion last night regarding our school safety situation last week. One of the primary takeaways from this forum was that many caregivers feel that not enough information about the school’s process has been shared.

Schools

Middle School Holding Forum About Safety on Campus After List of Students Found

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Watertown Middle School

Watertown Public School officials and the Watertown Police appear at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. for the Watertown Middle School Community following the discovery of a list of students created by a WMS student. School officials said they have assessed the situation and determined there was no credible threat, but some parents remain concerned for the safety of their children and have questions about how the school handled the situation. The list was found last week, and the school contacted parents of students who were on the document. Watertown Middle School implemented the district’s safety protocols, and has been working with the student and the student’s family, who worked with the school and police “to ensure their well-being and the safety of our community,” read a letter sent out by Watertown Middle School Principal Jennifer Chen Fein.

Schools

School Committee to Look at Ways to Make Overnight Field Trips Affordable for All Students

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Watertown Public School music students perform at Bandarama. Those in high school take a trip to New York every two years. The School Committee approved a field trip for Watertown High School music students to spend a weekend in New York, but had concerns about the price and making sure that all students can participate. The trip to the Big Apple has become a biannual tradition for the chorus, band, and orchestra. The trip includes a performance and workshop with professional musicians, a Broadway show, a dinner/dance cruise around the Statue of Liberty, visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and walking around Central Park.

Schools

Musicians Wanted to Perform at 11th Annual Watertown MusicFest

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The following announcement was provided by the Friends of Watertown Music:

Friends of Watertown Music invites you to attend our 11th Annual MusicFest, on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 5:30 to 9:00 pm, at the Watertown Middle School. MusicFest is a fun community event, offering something for everyone with over 40 performances, across 3 stages. The variety of performers often includes student musicians, Watertown Public School teachers, local rock bands, established musicians, a vignette of musical theater, and more. Performances run from 5 to 20 minutes, so attendees have the chance to go around and see as many acts as they wish. Calling all musicians: registration is open through March 5th !

Schools

Watertown Students from 7 Colleges Earn Academic Honors

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Fifteen students from Watertown earned academic honors for the Fall 2023 semester from Regis College, James Madison University, Nichols College, University of Alabama, University of Rhode Island, Boston University and Lasell University. The following announcements were provided by the colleges and universities. Regis College

Regis College proudly announces the university’s Fall 2023 Dean’s List recognizing their outstanding academic achievements. “Being named to the Dean’s List is a recognition of a students’ semester-long unwavering commitment to their academic program,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Erina Driscoll, PhD. “Regis is committed to building students’ character and confidence as they are intellectually prepared for a life and career of meaning through an inclusive and innovative environment.

Schools

LETTER: Parent Opposes Holding Lockdown Drills at School

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Dear Superintendent Galdston and School Committee,

I read with alarm in Watertown News that our schools are planning to conduct lockdown/ALICE/active shooter drills. Please reconsider this decision. I understand that there have been issues with false alarms, but it is extremely unclear how past false alarms should have any effect on whether we conduct these terrifying and dubiously effective drills. There is zero research to suggest that these drills do anything other than terrify students. In fact, your own announcement said “Sometimes it is too frightening for children,” and that you had decided not to do ALICE drills at elementary schools in the last few years for that reason.

Schools

Following False Alarms Watertown Schools to Hold Emergency Drills, Also Seek to Improve Communication System

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After a series of false alarms in the security systems at Watertown’s new schools, the district plans to hold drills for the students, and will look for ways to avoid more incidents in the future. The Watertown Public Schools opened two brand new elementary schools, a third underwent a major renovation and expansion, and students at the high school have a new, temporary home. The new buildings also have new technology, including a multi-hazard notification system, said Superintendent Dede Galdston. All four new schools have had false alarms, she said, some due to wiring and other when the panic button was pressed by mistake. “We want to make sure people understand that these happen and that we will do to prevent that from happening again,” Galdston said.